Is a credit repair service that guarantees to fix my credit score legitimate?
No legitimate credit repair service can guarantee to improve your score. Services that make this promise are often scams that charge fees for work you can do yourself for free.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Credit repair fraud targets people with poor credit who are desperate to improve their financial standing. Fraudulent services charge large upfront fees and promise to remove negative items from your credit file — including legitimate accurate information that cannot legally be removed. Some offer to create a 'new' credit identity using a credit privacy number (CPN), which is illegal. Genuine methods for improving your credit score include correcting actual errors on your credit file (which you can do for free directly with credit reference agencies), reducing outstanding balances, registering on the electoral roll, and building a history of on-time payments. No paid service can do anything for your credit that you cannot do yourself for free through legitimate channels.
Common red flags
- Guarantee of a specific credit score improvement
- Promise to remove accurate negative information
- Offer of a 'new' credit identity or credit privacy number
- Upfront fees required before any service is delivered
- Advice to dispute accurate information rather than correct errors
What to do now
- Check your credit file for errors directly with regulated credit reference agencies at no charge
- Report and correct any genuine errors through the official dispute process
- Never pay for a 'new' credit identity — this is illegal
- Report fraudulent credit repair services to your financial regulator
Frequently asked questions
How long does legitimate credit improvement take?
It depends on the negative factors involved. Consistent on-time payments, reduced utilisation, and corrected errors typically begin showing results within three to six months, though significant improvement can take longer.